172 THE BOOK OF VEGETABLES 



twelve to thirty inches. Or plant in hills, two by two 

 feet to three by three feet, and thin to two or three 

 plants in the hill. 



])epth. One to two inches, accord- 

 ing as the soil is firm or loose. 



Sow for an early crop under glass 

 in April, in pots, and repot as the 

 plants grow. Sow outdoors in late 

 Fig. so. Okra. Dwarf May or early June, when frosts are 



Variety. '"^ P ast > thinl y in the rOW > ei g h t to ten 



seeds in the hill. 



Set out house-grown plants when frosts are past. 



Thin when the plants are growing well. Taken up 

 with care, thinnings may be transplanted. 



Culture. Preserve the surface-mulch. 



Fertilize while the plants are young, with two or 

 three applications of nitrate of soda or liquid manure, 

 a week apart. 



Cut with an inch of stem while the pods are tender; 

 if they are too tough to slice with a kitchen knife, they 

 are too old. The flowers open early in the morning, 

 fade in a few hours, and the pods are usually ready to 

 pick on the afternoon of the next day. The sizes of 

 the pods vary with the varieties. Pick clean daily; 

 otherwise the plant suspends production for a while. 

 Pods may be kept fresh by moistening and spreading 

 thinly on trays in a cool place. They heat in bulk, or 

 in a closed receptacle. 



